In honor of World Landscape Architecture Month, April is the time to consider how sustainable landscapes can be a key contributor to health, economic and ecological benefits. Urban green spaces and parks provide essential opportunities to socialize, exercise, play, relax and reconnect with nature.
The Healthy City – Urban Green Spaces That Make People Healthier
Research confirms that quality outdoor spaces improve people’s physical and mental health by promoting active lifestyles, stimulating social interaction, encouraging a sense of community, stimulating learning and developing a more connected environment. By increasing air quality, reducing pollution and providing cooling and shade, green spaces can reduce the risk of asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis, among others.
Creating a New Life for Schoolyards – Philadelphia Schools and Communities
Yost and her students are leading a collaborative effort to breathe new life into more than 300 neglected schoolyards in the School District of Philadelphia. These revitalized spaces provide children with a safe, natural and accessible place to play.
Empowering Community through Design & Urban Development
Tim’s work is focused on deconstructuing landscape design processes that have a history of contributing to marginalization of communities of color, and empowering them to reclaim their places through the power of design. He works with local communities to understand their vision, goals and aspirations in order to develop a comprehensive design strategy that focuses on the needs and wants of the community.
Embracing the Region through Practice-Based Research – Legacy Design
By setting an agenda of sustainability that integrates economic, environmental, community and aesthetic benefits, landscape architects can ensure their projects deliver measurable results. This holistic approach expands their disciplinary scope and enables them to practice design rigorously.